The Shepherd and the Sheep

April 25, 2021 John 10:11-18 The Shepherd and the Sheep 4th Sunday of Easter Year B Good Shepherd Sunday The health team decided that people are allowed to sing and to recite into their masks. Opening Song Welcome The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want. God leads us into green pastures and beside still waters; God restores our soul and leads us in right paths. Even though we walk through the difficult valley, we fear no evil; for you are with us; your rod and your staff — they comfort us. You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies; you anoint our head with oil; our cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Opening Prayer Loving Shepherd, you know our names; you care for us. When we face darkness and death, walk beside us. When we hunger for your love, fill us with your presence. When we are fearful, feed us at your table. May we dwell in the house of goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. Amen. Stewardship Moment So often we come to worship, eager to be nurtured, encouraged, and reassured. But we also recognize times when we hear the words of scripture, and recognize the HARD questions which challenge us! Like this text from I John 3:16-17: We know love by this, that (Jesus) laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? (“Refuses help” can also be translated “closes the heart”. In this Easter-tide, remember how our hearts nearly burst open with the glad news, “Christ is RISEN!”? With that open heart, we know it’s possible for us to respond with compassion when we see needs in those around us. (name here either one outreach effort in your local area which could use a financial boost, use the latest info from Week of Compassion or One Great Hour of Sharing, or lift up your particular middle judicatory or the General Church.) As we receive our morning offering, may you dig deep in response to the need which is before us, and provide your life-giving gift! Offering Prayer (Psalm 23, 1 John 3) God of love, you abide with us; you provide for all our needs and guide us in your ways. Out of gratitude for your care, we bring our gifts before you. Use them for your work of caring, that all may feast at the table of abundance, walk without fear, and drink deeply from the cup of compassion. Amen. Special Music Scripture John 10:11-18 John 10:11-18 Common English Bible I am the good shepherd 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. That’s because he isn’t the shepherd; the sheep aren’t really his. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 He’s only a hired hand and the sheep don’t matter to him. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd. 17 “This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father.” Sermon The shepherd and the sheep 3 words for us this morning – omniscient, omnipotent, immortal – those are three very big words. You would be correct if you said that those are God sized words. Those words are aspects of God – All knowing, all powerful, and eternal. Those are also 3 big obsessions of people – knowledge, power and survival. Those are also the source of our biggest sins – these are the 3 things that get us into trouble – pursuit of things we don’t understand, control of our lives and the lives of others, and avoidance of death. Knowledge, power and survival – ordinary words. There is nothing wrong with them, it is the way that we go about achieving those things that can get us into trouble. Omniscient, omnipotent, immortal – words to describe God, not man. The good news is that as God’s children, - we have unlimited access to these 3 things. Jesus Christ came to our lives so that we could have those things. This is the 4th Sunday of Easter season. This is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The Shepherd is one of the most enduring images of the bible. All of the faith fathers raised sheep. The relationship of shepherd and sheep describe our faith. In many of these stories the subject is the different between the good shepherd and the bad shepherd. The whole point of John 10 – Jesus is the good shepherd. The book of John is a series of 7 statements about who the messiah is. Jesus says I am the vine, I am the door, I am the light of the world and today he says I am the good shepherd. Jews would be concerned because God is the good shepherd. Jesus is the son of God, he is also the son of man. This story is about shepherds, sheep and thieves. In some ways I think that in some point in our lives we are all of those things. I think that mostly we are all sheep led by a shepherd. Sometimes a good shepherd, sometimes a bad shepherd. That is what John 10 says. John himself was known as the beloved disciple – Jesus’ best friend. John stayed loyal to Jesus all of his life. On the cross, Jesus asked John to talk care of his mother and he did. John lived to be an old man who started a church o the island of Patmos. Mary lived with John until she died. John was like a good shepherd to Jesus because he stayed loyal. In contrast to Peter, who was a bad shepherd because he was not loyal. Jesus himself told Peter he would deny him. After the resurrection Peter became a good shepherd, starting a church and sacrificing his life for Jesus. We too are sometimes guilty of putting our needs and survival before others. But we too learn to trust in the Lord and do what we need to do. John 10 says that the good shepherd knows the sheep, doesn’t control them but takes care of them, and is willing to sacrifice his immortality so that they can live. The good shepherd gives us what we need to live so that we are not fending for ourselves. John the beloved disciple lived and carried the message much more passionate than the others gospel writers. The point of his gospel was to prove that Jesus was the messiah, the savior. A legend about John, known as the disciple whom Jesus loved, has the elderly man teaching some of his young disciples the principles of the kingdom. After he got their attention, John raised his hand for emphasis and uttered a word of wisdom: Little children love one another. One of the eager recruits retorted, that’s fine John, but how do we heal as Jesus did? The old gentleman replied, Little Children, love one another. Another neophyte chimed in, we get your point, John, but how can we be truly great and dynamic leaders? A third time the beloved disciple repeated” Little children, love one another. Love remains the essence of Jesus shepherding style of leadership. There are benefits to having the Lord as our shepherd. Being Christians is being one that Christ is willing to die for. Knowledge, power and survival are the benefits of saying the Lord is my Shepherd. We all know the 23rd psalm – the first line is the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. How many of us live that line? Our Master Makes the Difference As I have moved among men and women from all strata of society as both a lay pastor and as a scientist I have become increasingly aware of one thing. It is the boss, the manager, the Master in people's lives who makes the difference in their destiny. I have known some of the wealthiest men on this continent intimately, also some of the leading scientists and professional people. Despite their dazzling outward show of success, despite their affluence and their prestige, they remained poor in spirit, shriveled in soul, and unhappy in life. They were joyless people held in the iron grip and heartless ownership of the wrong master. By way of contrast, I have numerous friends among relatively poor people-people who have known hardship, disaster and the struggle to stay afloat financially. But because they belong to Christ and have recognized Him as Lord and Master of their lives, their owner and manager, they are permeated by a deep, quiet, settled peace that is beautiful to behold. It is indeed a delight to visit some of these humble homes where men and women are rich in spirit, generous in heart and large of soul. They radiate a serene confidence and quiet joy that surmounts all the tragedies of their time. They are under God's care and they know it. They have entrusted themselves to Christ's control and found contentment. Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Harper, 1970, p. 17 Many churches will tell people what their beginning date is. There is a tradition in New England instead of saying that a church is founded, it says that a church is gathered. Gathered Like Sheep I want to suggest that the connection in this text on Good Shepherd Sunday, particularly for the clergy, is not that we are the shepherds, good, bad, or indifferent, but that we are among the sheep. That puts a slightly different perspective on this text for us, because when we preach to our people as fellow sheep instead of as shepherd and sheep, they may actually be inclined to hear the text somewhat differently than we are accustomed to giving it to them and they are accustomed to receiving it. If we think of ourselves as among the sheep, as opposed to belonging to the Shepherds' Union, we may actually gain a new insight into the relationship that we have with one another. In New England, the ancient parishes of the seventeenth century in the Congregational order are not described as "founded"--if you ever look at an old seventeenth-century New England church, the sign will not say, "Founded in 1620," "Founded in 1636," "Founded in 1690"-- but use a very strange nomenclature used nowhere else in the church, either in Europe or in this country: it says "Gathered in 1620," "Gathered in 1640," "Gathered in 1690," and there is something very different between being founded and being gathered. The notion is that of sheep being gathered into the sheepfold. In church we are gathered together as the sheep of the good shepherd. When we work as a church it is not our will, but God’s will. We can lt God handle the three pursuits of life in order to have a happy and abudndant life or ministry. True Abundant Life One day a man stopped in a convenience store to get a newspaper. He noticed that the owner of the store had tears in his eyes and kept looking out the window. He asked what was going on. The store owner said, “Do you see that bus bench over there? There’s a woman who comes there every day around this time. She sits there for about an hour, knitting and waiting. Buses come and go, but she never gets on one and no one ever gets off for her to meet. The other day, I carried her a cup of coffee and sat with her for a while. “Her only son lives a long way away. She last saw him two years ago, when he boarded one of the buses right there. He is married now, and she has never met her daughter in law or seen their new child. She told me, ‘It helps to come here and wait. I pray for them as I knit little things for the baby, and I imagine them in their tiny apartment, saving money to come home. I can’t wait to see them.’” The reason the owner was looking out the window at that particular moment was that the three of them -- the son, his wife and their small child -- were just getting off the bus. The look on the woman’s face when this small family fell into her arms was one of pure joy. And this joy only increased when she looked into the face of her grandchild for the first time. The store owner commented, “I’ll never forget that look as long as I live.” The next day the same man returned to the convenience store. The owner was again behind the counter. Before the store owner could say or do anything, the customer said, “You sent her son the money for the bus tickets, didn’t you?” The store owner looked back with eyes full of love and a smile and replied, “Yes, I sent the money.” Then he repeated his statement from the day before, “I’ll never forget that look as long as I live.” This man had discovered a measure of the abundant life. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com Finally, I want us to think about the final line of the 23rd psalm – I shall dwell in the house of the lord forever. That my friends is eternal life – life with God. Omniscient, omnipotent, immortal – we have it all when we know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Amen. Prayer Our souls are weary, O God. We hear to easily the loud clamor of the world. We witness the terror and trauma all around us. We long for the "good old days" when life seemed so much safer and simpler; when we felt cherished and protected. In this spirit, we have come to this time of worship, seeking your peace and hope. The Psalmist wrote of green pastures and refreshing springs of water, places of rest. Offerings of quietness and comfort flood our thirsting souls. What we would give for such places in the heart! In the midst of all that is difficult, there is one who leads us to these places where, when we have gathered strength and healing, we are prepared to go forth in confidence to serve again. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows our name and our needs. He listens for our cries and responds in love. We can have great assurance in that. We have offered today the names and situations of illness, mourning, stress, and concern which touch our lives and our souls. We have breathed our heart’s desire for their healing and restoration. God’s abundant love shall flood over them until they are more than filled. God will be with all these dear ones in their situations and needs. And God will be with us, strengthening us, restoring us, healing us, challenging us, to witness to the Good News of Salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. Open our hearts this day, O Lord, and enter into our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN. Lord’s Prayer Passing the Peace of Christ (1 John 3) God calls us to love one another as God loves us. In this we know the truth of Christ’s peace. Share signs of Christ’s peace with one another. Song for Reflection O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing UMH 57 Announcements On May 22nd we will have a special visioning session from 9-11am. During this time committees are asked to gather and to plan activities for the next six months. We will them gather and create a church calendar of events. We are asking that all committees be represented at this event. Benediction The Good Shepherd leads us forward, from this place, into the world to serve God’s people, to witness to God’s love in all that we do. Go in peace and God’s peace will go with you. AMEN. Children’s Sermon The Shepherd Cares For His Sheep Lk 15:6 · Jn 10:11 · Isa 40:11; 53:6 · Heb 13:20 · Ps 100:3 Object: Lamb or sheep stickers Good morning, boys and girls. Who can tell me where New Zealand (Montana, Australia, Israel -- any sheep-producing area) is? (Response. Help them with the location if it is remote or strange to them.) I visited (place) for a period of time and saw lots and lots of sheep. Did you know that in New Zealand there are about 70 million sheep? That's about 20 or 25 sheep per person of the population. Why do people raise sheep? (Responses -- Wool, meat, skins.) Sheep have to be looked after and taken care of. In some places they have to be moved great distances to find enough pasture for them to graze. Do you know what a person who tends the sheep is called? (Response.) Yes, a shepherd. Many shepherds spend long days with their sheep, and can even tell them apart, although they all look alike to us sometimes. The Bible tells us that we are like sheep, and that we need a shepherd to take care of us, to feed us, to find us when we get lost, and to keep us from going astray. Who is our shepherd? (Responses -- God, Jesus, even the pastor may be suggested.) We have lots of word pictures in the Bible that tell us of the special love that God has for us as part of his flock. He knows each one of us by name and is always searching for us to bring us into the safety of his fold. Jesus said that his sheep heard his voice and came to him. As good sheep we need to be listening to hear the voice of our master. (Prayer to help us to know the safety that comes from being in the care of the Great Shepherd.) (Give each child a sheep sticker.) CSS Publishing Company, Let The Children Come, by Robert B. Lantz Additional Illustrations 1. First, we have a shepherd that is a genuine shepherd. 2. Second, I think that the Good Shepherd knows his sheep. 3. Third, the Good Shepherd also includes other sheep. 4. Fourth, the shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. St. Augustine, in using this paradigm, describes the function of the shepherd as that being who puts his body in the narrow opening of the sheepfold, the opening designed to protect the sheep gathered within and to prevent the wolves on the outside from leaping in. There is something to be said for being gathered rather than founded; and to be gathered together by the Good Shepherd, who knows us by name, and who protects us as the shepherd and guardian of our souls, is a cause for thanksgiving. It connects and unites us with the people of God, it doesn't separate us from them; and, when they are used to hearing about good shepherds (us) and dumb sheep (them) it removes some of those textual barriers and makes the image one of being gathered in together. Peter J. Gomes, Good Shepherd, Good Sheep Other Voices The call of our Lord is "hidden" in a whole chorus of worldly voices which beckon us. Other would-be shepherds seek to tempt us away from the Good Shepherd, the joy of his forgiveness and the security of his love. And when we are weak and confused we may fall victim to the enticements of other gods. I am reminded of an American tourist who was traveling in the Mid East. He came upon several shepherds whose flocks had intermingled while drinking water from a brook. After an exchange of greetings, one of the shepherds turned toward the sheep and called out, "Manah. Manah. Manah." (Manah means "follow me" in Arabic.) Immediately his sheep separated themselves from the rest and followed him. Then one of the two remaining shepherds called out, "Manah. Manah." and his sheep left the common flock to follow him. The traveler then said to the third shepherd, "I would like to try that. Let me put on your cloak and turban and see if I can get the rest of the sheep to follow me." The shepherd smiled knowingly as the traveler wrapped himself in the cloak, put the turban on his head and called out, "Manah. Manah." The sheep did not respond to the stranger's voice. Not one of them moved toward him. "Will the sheep ever follow someone other than you?" The traveler asked. "Oh yes," the shepherd replied, "sometimes a sheep gets sick, and then it will follow anyone." We have seen it, haven't we? People, young and old, who are "sick." Battered by the storms of life and distracted by voices urging them to go this way and that, they have lost their bearings and they don't know where they are or where they are going. That can be more than a little frightening; it leads to despair, to hopelessness. And when someone is "sick" they will follow anyone who will promise a moment of happiness, a brief feeling of peace or forgetfulness, a sense that they are someone. But the call of Jesus the Good Shepherd is, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." There is no better way, no greater truth, no happier life. Our Lord reaches out to us in love that we might follow him. John M. Braaten, The Greatest Wonder of All, CSS Publishing A Thief and Robber Eight or so years ago there was a story carried in various newspapers about a woman from Missouri who was startled out of a dead sleep one night by some desperate cries of "Help! Help!" You know how it is when you awake to some sound: you are not at all certain whether you really heard something or if it was just a dream. At first she thought perhaps her husband had cried out, but he was sleeping soundly next to her. Then suddenly she heard the cries again: "Help! Help!" Finally she threw back the covers and headed downstairs toward their living room. "Help!" went the plaintive voice yet again. "Where are you?" the woman replied. "In the fireplace," came the rather shocking answer. And sure enough, dangling in the fireplace with his head sticking through the flue was a burglar, upside down and quite snugly stuck! The police and fire department got him out eventually, though not before having to disassemble the mantle and some of the masonry. Perhaps the best part of the story was what this woman did in the meantime. She flipped on all the lights and videotaped the whole thing. I don't know what the two talked about while waiting for the police and company to arrive, but had I been she, I think I would have hauled out a Bible and given the crook a pointed reading of John 10: "Verily I tell you, anyone who does not enter by the door but climbs in another way is a thief and a robber!" Scott Hoezee, Through the Gate The Voice of a Stranger I once knew someone who was a leader in the congregation. At one time or another he had filled most (if not all) of the important leadership positions in that church. More than that, however, oftentimes he was the one who would volunteer for those tough, dirty jobs that no one else wanted: washing dishes after a potluck supper, helping to teach the confirmation class, stacking shelves at the food bank. This is the kind of person you would like to clone and with whom you'd like to fill the congregation, right? Wrong! This person was a delight to have around until things didn't go his way, and then he was a nightmare: disruptive, divisive, even destructive. He didn't understand the meaning of community and was not a team player. And when (not for the first time) he and his wife climbed into their huff-mobile and drove away after some disagreement, the congregation finally had the good sense not to beg them to come back. Finally that congregation had learned to distinguish between the voice of a shepherd and the voice of a stranger. Verne Arens, (Good) Help Wanted Sound Theology In a Peanuts' cartoon, Lucy and Linus are staring out the window. The rain is pouring down, and Lucy says, "Boy, look at it rain! What if it floods the whole world?" Linus answers, "It will never do that. In the ninth chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that would never happen again, and the sign of the promise is the rainbow." Lucy is looking directly at him as he is speaking. She turns back toward the window, smiles big and says, "You have taken a great load off my mind." To which Linus responds, "Sound theology has a way of doing that." James Merritt, Collected Sermons, quoting Charles Schultz Thou Shepherd of Israel Charles Wesley’s most mystical hymn is arguably “Thou Shepherd of Israel.” The hymn is no longer sung, but it might be a great way to end your sermon, or would make a wonderful benediction. 1 Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine, The joy and desire of my heart, For closer communion I pine, I long to reside where thou art: The pasture I languish to find Where all, who their Shepherd obey, Are fed, on thy bosom reclined, And screened from the heat of the day. 2 Ah! show me that happiest place, The place of thy people's abode, Where saints in an ecstasy gaze, And hang on a crucified God; Thy love for a sinner declare, Thy passion and death on the tree: My spirit to Calvary bear, To suffer and triumph with thee. 3 'Tis there, with the lambs of thy flock, There only, I covet to rest, To lie at the foot of the rock, Or rise to be hid in thy breast; 'Tis there I would always abide, And never a moment depart, Concealed in the cleft of thy side, Eternally held in thy heart. Charles Wesley Let me ask you a question: what would you be willing to do to live forever? I’m not talking about eternal life after you die. I’m talking about avoiding death altogether. Human beings have always searched for a way to cheat death. In Hollywood, Florida, there is a church called the Church of Perpetual Life, and its focus is on extending the healthy human lifespan on this earth for as long as possible. The church’s motto is “Aging and death can be optional.” What a great marketing slogan for a society that is rapidly becoming godless! The Church of Perpetual Life’s symbol is not a cross, but a phoenix, the bird in Greek mythology that rose from the dead and lives on perpetually. The church’s leader, William Faloon, teaches his congregation about health and age reversal technologies. To support their ministry, the church sells dietary supplements and a magazine on preventing aging. And the church supports a cryonics conference. Cryonics is the practice—completely unproven, by the way—of freezing a person’s body and brain for decades, then unthawing them and bringing them back to life when medical science has found a cure for death. William Faloon hopes to build a cryonics chamber in Texas that can hold 10,000 bodies, so its members can be brought back to life sometime in the future. (1) Eternal life is God’s greatest gift. This life may offer us many pleasures and joys, but it still leaves us hungry for some greater meaning or purpose. That’s our hunger to know God. That’s part of our DNA. We were created in the image of God. All the qualities that make up God—holiness, completeness, life in its fullest sense—all these qualities are a part of our makeup. We were created to know God and to live at peace with God. We were created for purposeful work and creativity and relationships. All the blessings we see in the first chapters of Genesis—that’s the life we were made for. So when you get that empty ache inside that tells you this life is meaningless, please don’t give up. Please don’t try to numb the pain. Acknowledge that this life isn’t your true purpose. And let that ache drive you to search for the God in whose image you were created. A focus on eternal life also frees us for generosity. We’re not just talking about money here. We’re talking about a generosity of spirit that is motivated by love. If God loved us enough to give us His Son that we might have eternal life, then won’t that same God give us all that we need in this life? Knowing that our life belongs to a loving and generous God frees us to live with a generosity of spirit. Pastor Adam Hamilton’s daughter Danielle and her husband JT once worked at a hospice center for AIDS patients in South Africa. One day, the hospice staff decided to take the hospice residents out for ice cream. None of them made much money, and the residents were very poor, so the staff saved up their money for this very special treat. The closest restaurant that served ice cream was a Kentucky Fried Chicken. A customer at the restaurant noticed the hospice group and asked about their purpose there. When Danielle told them about their ice cream trip, the man immediately offered to buy all of the hospice residents some fried chicken too. Even though the man didn’t appear to have much money himself, he went up to the counter and ordered enough chicken for every resident. As Hamilton writes, “For most of the residents, this would be the last time they would eat fried chicken and ice cream, but in that moment there was great joy.” (9) Generosity is rooted in faith and it overflows in joy. Who doesn’t want more joy in this life? This is the kind of life God created you to live. But joy doesn’t come from winning the biggest chunk of cheese in the rat race. Joy comes from focusing on the things that are important to God. A focus on eternal life frees us from anxiety and frees us for generosity. When we look at the life of Jesus, we don’t have to question God’s existence and His purposes anymore. God’s purpose is for you to live eternally in God’s presence, where there is peace and joy and rest from all forms of anxiety and want. That’s what Jesus lived for and died for. Don’t you want to know there is something worth living for and dying for that is greater than this ordinary life? That “something” can only be found in giving your life over to Jesus and living in his promise of eternal life. read a story the other day id never heard before about Abraham Lincoln. He was surprised one day when a rough looking man drew a revolver and put it right in his face. Trying to remain as calm as he could Lincoln simply asked the man, “What seems to be the matter?” The stranger replied, “Well some years ago I swore an oath that if I ever came across an uglier man than I am I’d shoot him right on the spot.” Lincoln smiled and said, “Well then please shoot me for if I’m an uglier man than you are I don't want to live.” If you are normal and in a normal frame of mind you don't want to just live life you want to live a life worth living. The reason why people commit suicide is because they have convinced themselves that for whatever the reason their life is no longer worth living. Well I make no apologies when I say to you I want my life to be worth living and when it’s over I want it to be well lived. A legend about John, known as the disciple whom Jesus loved, has the elderly man teaching some of his young disciples the principles of the kingdom. After he got their attention, John raised his hand for emphasis and uttered a word of wisdom: Little children love one another. One of the eager recruits retorted, that’s fine John, but how do we heal as Jesus did? The old gentleman replied, Little Children, love one another. Another neophyte chimed in, we get your point, John, but how can we be truly great and dynamic leaders? A third time the beloved disciple repeated” Little children, love one another. Love remains the essence of Jesus shepherding style of leadership.

Easter in the time of COVID

April 18,2021 Third Sunday of Lent COVID Memorial Service 1 John 3:1-7 Opening Song Welcome Opening prayer Stepping into the turmoil of life, God, you still offer peace to all who seek to follow Jesus as the Christ. Today, those words of peace still our hurry. We’re grateful the Easter story is able to be savored, filling our imaginations, encouraging each of us to dream of what is possible. So continue to make us whole in our identity as disciples. Challenge us to be truth-telling witnesses of your love made known in Christ. AMEN Prayer over putting on a mask Creator, as I prepare to go into the world, help me to see the sacrament in the wearing of this cloth – let it be “an outward sign of an inward grace” – a tangible and visible way of living love for my neighbours, as I love myself. Christ, since my lips will be covered, uncover my heart, that people would see my smile in the crinkles around my eyes. Since my voice may be muffled, help me to speak clearly, not only with my words, but with my actions. Holy Spirit, as the elastic touches my ears, remind me to listen carefully – and full of care – to all those I meet. May this simple piece of cloth be shield and banner, and each breath that it holds, be filled with your love. In your Name and in that love, I pray. May it be so. May it be so. Rev. Richard Bott Stewardship Moment Moment for Stewardship This week marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day (April 22). We recognize our calling as “stewards” means we are care-takers of the creation God has provided. From Genesis right through the rest of the Bible and on to today, people of faith recognize God’s good gifts include earth’s land, air and water on which our lives depend. In this Easter-tide, we continue to rejoice in the new life of the resurrected Jesus. Yet our own lives so often ignore the actions we can take to be stewards. So, today, we pray for our own lives to be raised up/inspired to the point that we might willingly become witnesses to God’s love made known in Jesus. Prayer of Thanksgiving Creating God, We thank you for the creation which you freely give to us. In gratitude for your gifts, we respond with our desire to be faith-filled stewards, caring for creation. Please receive and help us use these gifts for the on-going life of this congregation and for ways we will engage as witnesses to your desire for full and abundant life on Earth. AMEN Scripture 1 John 3:1-7 Common English Bible 3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us in that we should be called God’s children, and that is what we are! Because the world didn’t recognize him, it doesn’t recognize us. 2 Dear friends, now we are God’s children, and it hasn’t yet appeared what we will be. We know that when he appears we will be like him because we’ll see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves even as he is pure. 4 Every person who practices sin commits an act of rebellion, and sin is rebellion. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Every person who remains in relationship to him does not sin. Any person who sins has not seen him or known him 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you. The person who practices righteousness is righteous, in the same way that Jesus is righteous. Sermon 1+1=1 - the math of love Twenty six years of ministry and two full years of clinical pastoral education has trained me to be professional about death and grief. It is my job to visit people in the hospital, to walk with them from illness to death, and to pray for them at their funeral. – and to go home and eat dinner as if it was all a part of a normal day. Then there are weeks like this one, where my humanity seeps through, and I cant help but to be overwhelmed with grief. Death can take its toll on even the strongest of pastors. And of course it doesn’t help that I really have not been feeling well. That is how I know that I am really sick – when its gets harder to deal with those negative emotions of life. This has been a very hard year for each of us. All of us have been affected in some way, in several ways by the COVID pandemic. That is why I thought that it was important that as we come to the season of resurrection and rebirth, as we return to church and get reacclimated to our mission – it is critical that we acknowledge the collective grief of the congregation. It order to move on – we have to name it, touch it acknowledge it, acknowledge the affect it has had on us. We are back to gathering in person, but we are not really back and things are not really the same. When we were meeting a year ago – attendance was dwindling down to 60-65 people. Now we are consistently 25-30 – with more people joining us online. There are a number of people who have faithfully attended the church for years – who are not here with us to come to church. There are a number of people who we saw at church regularly, who don’t show up anymore. There are a number of programs that we will not have this year, and may not ever have again. The service is different, the service is at a different time, the way in which we interact is different. I think that it is important to name those losses, and acknowledge our grief. Easter is intended to be bittersweet – a celebration o fthe resurrection is not a celebration of a return to the way things used to be. Easter is an acknowledgement of a new normal. It is an acknowledgement that we seek the light, because we know what it means to walk in darkness. We Are Made for God Jesus knew that if his resurrection was going to do the world any good — if the disciples were really going to be able to proclaim a message of Good News that the world could hear and accept — then the resurrection had to be seen as something more than just the world’s greatest divine parlor trick, more than just the ultimate surprise ending that would startle and jolt everyone who heard about it. No, the truth of Easter and the reality of Jesus’ return from the dead had to be the capstone on a much larger story that went all the way back to the beginning. It must be seen as something toward which God has been working all along because then and only then can we understand that this has something to do with the core purpose for which we all were created in the first place. This service is dedicated to the grief present with us this morning. I felt that the litany that we will say at the end of the service is long, but it is also inclusive of our experience. I may or may not read the entire litany in service, but I would encourage you to read it, reflect and pray with it. The Jesuits have a spiritual practice called the examen. Every night you reflect on the good, the bad the ugly in your day. As you look at the day – you should reflect on where you saw God at work in your life. God is not just present in the positive. God is present in our angers, fears, jealousies, and pain. It is the negative things in life that often give us the clearest picture of God. While putting this service together, I found several pandemic examen, where we can reflect on what this year has been like, what feelings have come up? What have you learned about life, and humanity? Where did you see God within the last year? What is going with you right now? What have you lost, what have you gained? The threat of COVID is not over yet – life has not returned to normal yet. I think that the most important question of the day is what hope do you have? For yourself, for your life, for this church. What is our future. Many were worried about our future before the pandemic, this year has certainly heightened those fears. Do we give up? Or do we put our faith in God, our mission, one another? Just yesterday, I recited the words of the United Methodist funeral service. It is in the hymnal, along with the wedding service. The first paragraph – the gathering says in dying christ destroyed our death, rising christ restored our life. Christ will come again in glory. As in baptism we put on Christ, so in christ may we be clothed in glory. Here and now dear friends, we are God’s children. What we shall be has not yet been revealed, but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, Those who have this hope purify themselves as christ is pure. We don’t know what we shall be, we don’t know what this congregation will look like in 1 year, 2 years or 5 years – that has not yet been revealed to us. But we do know that God will be present in the midst of it. Those are the words of 1 John 3:1-7. I love 1 John it has a powerful message – God loves us, God showed his love by bringing Christ into our lives, and that we should love others. The scripture says that we are all children of God because God loves us. We are also sinners, but God grace is stronger than our sin. When we have hope – we purify our mind, body and spirit of negativity and choose to live in grace. Somehow Easter does more than just offer the kind of generic “new beginning” and “fresh start” that some churches seem to reduce it to each year. Easter does not mean that a better day is coming by and by, that with a little bit of luck we can turn things around in our lives, or that there is no situation so difficult that God cannot cause a bright new day to dawn upon us. No, Easter means we were made for God. Easter means we were made for flourishing before the face of our God. And Easter means that the sin and evil that put up obstacles and caused a gaping chasm between us and God will not stand. God will bring all things back to their created intent. God will restore all things to himself. Easter is not only about the end of the cosmic story but is also a vindication ofthe beginning. Scott Hoezee, Comments and Observations The Only Easter Some Will Know Jesus returns from the dead and meets his disciples in different places: the garden, the Emmaus Road, the seashore, the Upper Room. He witnesses to them that he is alive, this guy back from the dead with a body. He isn't content to send them a postcard from heaven: HAVING A GREAT TIME. WISH YOU WERE HERE. No. He shows up among them as his own witness. And he recruits as witnesses those other people with bodies. He wants them to move out and tell everyone who will listen and everyone who won't that bodies count, that he's back from the dead with a body, threatening them with life. Those who recognize his witness become witnesses themselves. They put their bodies on the line. They become contagious with the forgiveness they've caught, carriers of resurrection. That's what this back-to-life Jesus wants of us: not names on a list, or what someone has called "pew potatoes." Jesus wants us as witnesses. Not airy spirits or pious ghosts, but bodies like his own with wounds to show, bodies that witness to resurrection, threatening the world with life. For the only Easter some people may ever see is the Easter they see in you and me. Charles Hoffacker, A Guy With a Body The health team will be meeting after church today – all are welcome to be a part of that conversation. One of the resources that we will look at is from the church leadership institute – which encourages church to not only look at their church mission statement, but to also look at developing a post pandemic mission statement. Who are we going to be in the midst of this difficult circumstance, and how do we intend to be the children of God and show love to others? A Sunday School teacher once asked her students to talk about how they felt about their church. The students responded in the usual ways: some said something silly to get the rest of the class to laugh, while others tried to be more serious. One of the girls was new to the class, and she felt uncomfortable about entering into class discussions, so she never raised her hand, or volunteered an answer. That Sunday, however, she did have an answer for her Sunday School teacher, and it was unforgettable. She said that going to church was, "like walking into the heart of God." (1) That is something to think about. Let us pray…… Litany of Solidarity and Hope During a Pandemic For those who are sick. For those with chronic illnesses and underlying health concerns. For all those who are suffering. For those who are lonely. For those who have no one to check on them. For families that are separated. For those who are unemployed. For those suffering financial hardships. For those who face an uncertain future. For those who are suffering from physical or emotional abuse. For those who are disproportionately suffering because of societal structures and unjust policies. For those who are struggling with physical or mental disabilities. For those who are overwhelmed by anxiety and stress. For those who are dying. For those who have died while saving the lives of others. For all who have lost their lives. For those who have survived. For those who have lost their spouses. For children who have been orphaned. For all those who mourn and those who comfort them. For firefighters, police, and emergency medical workers. For doctors, nurses, and all health care professionals. For those who serve in the armed forces. For public officials. For business leaders. For educators. For innovators and inventors who provide new solutions. For peace in our city and in our world. For renewed friendships among neighbors. For solidarity and unity among all peoples. For a greater appreciation and love of all humanity. For patience and perseverance. For calm in the midst of fear. For the grace to overcome adversity. For the generosity of spirit. For hope in times of despair. For light in the darkness. Gracious and Loving God, You are our comforter and our hope. Hear our prayers as we come before you. Strengthen us in this time of need. Inspire us to acts of solidarity and generosity and give us hope of a brighter future. - By Joseph P. Shadle Song for Reflection God of Grace, God of Glory UMH 577 Announcements Benediction Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Children’s Sermon Remember learning about the love commandment? Sunday school may introduce the lesson this way: 1+1=1. (This is maybe not the best approach for parents trying to become homeschool math teachers.) Whether reading from Mark’s or Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus pulls out a few tricks when he gives his answer to the test question: What's the greatest commandment? Jesus could have picked one of the Ten Commandments, but that would have been walking right into a trap. Instead, Jesus refers back to long-held Jewish beliefs and practices. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus says, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The first part is a reminder of the Shema, an ancient Jewish prayer practice his questioners would have said twice a day. The second portion connects love of God to loving our neighbor and ourselves reflecting Jewish practices described in Leviticus 19. The 1+1=1 nature of this commandment can make it difficult to both understand and follow. I like to think of it as a balancing act. Thankfully, this is easier than juggling. For example, the act of washing hands is an example of doing all three at once. When we wash our hands, we are taking care of our body, honoring God’s creation, and keeping others safe from germs. Asking kids to wash hands is necessary, but connecting it to our faith values and social good gives it meaning. That’s the simple trick of turning something from a chore into moral formation. READ: Coronavirus Resources: A Guide for Sojourners Readers How do we invite our children to live the love commandment as we make sense of the COVID-19 pandemic? In practicing love of God, we could use time away from school and friends to build strong faith practices. • Make time to pray and eat as a family with no extracurriculars to rush to every night. • Sing a children’s hymn while washing hands. (My favorite is “This Little Light of Mine.”) • Add a Bible story or scripture passage to the daily homeschool reading assignment. • Dig into some theological questions about God’s presence in our life. Additional Illustrations Go to the World Jesus did not command the whole world to go to church. Jesus commanded his church to go to the whole world. Traditional A Time of Transition Years ago the Standard Oil Company changed its name from ESSO to EXXON. Perhaps you remember the public campaign. For months, the famous “put a tiger in your tank” tiger was pictured on a large sign climbing a stepladder to the top of the local gas station’s ESSO sign. With a big smile on his face, the tiger held in his arms the new EXXON sign. Then one day, Standard Oil stations across America no longer had their old ESSO signs, but new EXXON signs. It was a clever campaign. If the new EXXON signs just showed up one day without any warning everyone would have been confused. “What happened to the ESSO station?,” people would have wondered. It took a time of transition. In the early church it took time for Jesus’ followers to realize that the post-Easter Jesus, the Risen Jesus, was the Jesus they knew in Galilee, but also different in important ways. That’s what the resurrection appearances in Matthew, Luke and John are for. They helped those first disciples recognize the post-Easter Jesus. Before Easter they knew him by the sound of his voice, the muscle of his arm, the stride of his gait. After Easter they would learn to recognize Jesus in new ways. Thomas H. Yorty, Recognizing Jesus In John Steinbeck's great novel, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, a migrating "Okie" family is told not to waste vital packing space on photographs and other items of family history and memories. One of the family members objects and asks, "How will we know it's us without our past?" Dr. Tony Campolo likes to tell how God is like a grandparent who visits with friends and relatives, and then begins to pull out all the pictures of their children and grandchildren. And the grandparents will say, "This is my Tony, this is my Suzy, this is my Eric, this is my Mary, this is my Jennifer, this is my Johnny." Dr. Campolo asks if it has ever crossed your mind that God does the same thing, because we are his children?" Don't worry if the picture you are looking at is not as beautiful as you think it should be. God sees you and loves you and that is where our real beauty comes from. Remember, there is always more grace in God than sin in us. Remember, God sees us and knows us and has promised to love us in spite of ourselves. "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now..." The main difference between a Saint and a Sinner is really quite simple. It really doesn't have anything to do with whether or not someone has accepted Christ or not. The main difference is an affair of the heart and the soul and the focus of the heart and soul which of course makes it a Stewardship issue, which is why I bring it up. Now, I know there are more attributes to both, but one of the main differences between a saint and a sinner is: "a saint loves people and uses things, while a sinner loves things and uses people." In antiquity, a rabbi would address his congregation gathered in the synagogue as "my children." Age was not a consideration. You could be eight or 88 or any age in between. This was because all people are God's children. The rabbi was shepherd of his flock and felt a real responsibility for those in his care, responding as a loving parent would. Ben Hooper was a boy who grew up in the mountains of Tennessee.4 Ben was maltreated because he was born out of wedlock, certainly no fault of his. People were always examining his facial features and trying to guess who his father was. He was drawn to a local church and would slip in just to hear the sermon. Afterward, he would hurry out, knowing that a boy such as himself was not welcome in a holy place. One Sunday, Ben was unable to make a quick exit. He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and fearfully turned to see the preacher staring right at him. Ben assumed that the preacher was about to make a guess as to who his father was. Then the preacher said, "Boy, I see a striking resemblance. I know who you are. You are a child of God. Now, go claim your inheritance." Ben left church that day a different person because someone recognized him as a child of God. Later in life, Ben Hooper was twice-elected governor of Tennessee. We are God's children, not because of anything we do, but simply because God loves us. As children of God, what we will be when Christ returns is yet to be revealed. As children of God, we live as Christ lived, walking in the light of God's amazing grace. We will see God face-to-face in the last hour. And in between times, God abides in the community of faith, in fellowship with Christ, and with us. God is light. Walking in that light, we will live forever. Amen. There is something here which we may well note. It is by the gift of God that a man becomes a child of God. By nature a man is the creature of God, but it is by grace that he becomes the child of God There is somewhere the story of a poor and simple man who would often go into a cathedral to pray; and he would always pray kneeling before the crucifix. Someone noticed that, though he knelt in the attitude of prayer, his lips never moved and he never seemed to say anything. He asked what he was doing kneeling like that and the man answered: “I look at him; and he looks at me.” That is the vision of God in Christ that the simplest soul can have; and he who looks long enough at Jesus Christ must become like him. A novelist draws the picture of a young man who always refused to share in the lower pleasures to which his comrades often invited and even urged him. His explanation was that some day something fine was going to come to him, and he must keep himself ready for it. The man who knows that God is at the end of the road will make all life a preparation to meet him.

Stewardship as a way of Life

April 11, 2021 Stewardship Sunday Acts 4:32-35 Psalm 113 A Celebration of our Gifts Opening Song Lighting the Christ Candle Welcome Opening Prayer One: Welcome to this hour of worship, one week after our Easter celebration! Many: Tho’ the flowers have faded and the balloons are deflated, we’re here to rejoice, for Christ is RISEN! One: Christ is risen, indeed! Many: Together, we welcome the peace of Christ in our lives and in the world. One: May the peace of Christ be with you! Many: And with you, also Stewardship Moment The second Sunday of Easter is usually low Sunday. Usually the pastor takes off, and there is nothing happening to top the energy of Easter. But this year that is not so, this yr we will have pledge Sunday the day after Easter. And the fun continues as we do things to get in touch with our mission as a church. You can turn in your pledges in the offering plate with your offering. If you have not filled out the pledge card – there are some outside to fill out. If you are not able to turn it in today, there are envelopes in the narthex so you can send it back into the church. After the sermon we will have say a prayer over our pledges to the ministry of the church. We will talk about the mission of the church over the 50 days of Easter. Moment for Stewardship Although the emotional “high” of Easter has ebbed for many of us, the joy of being a disciple of the Resurrected One continues! Have you heard this description of joy from Katharine Hepburn, adapted from her own words? “Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. There was one other family between us and the ticket counter, with eight children, all probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn’t have a lot of money. The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about all they would see that night. By their excitement you could sense they had never been to the circus before. Their mother was holding her husband’s hand, looking up at him as if to say, “You’re my knight in shining armor.” The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted? He proudly responded, “I’d like eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus.” The ticket lady stated the price. The man’s wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man’s lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, “How much?” The ticket lady again stated the price. The man didn’t have enough money. Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and dropped it. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) Then, he bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket.” The man understood what was going on. He looked straight into my dad’s eyes, took my dad’s hand, squeezed the $20 bill, and replied; “Thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family.” The $20 my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with. Although we didn’t get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide. Followers of the risen Christ know a deep joy which comes from reaching out with acts of compassionate care for others. Today, with our offering, we have opportunity to tap into that joy as we not only care for the regular needs in our congregation, but as we ________________ (name what outreach, mission or special need this offering can help meet). The definition of Joy - Jesus first, others then you. Your gift may be precisely what gives others the opportunity to experience more abundant resurrection life! Prayer of Thanksgiving With hearts filled with gratitude, God, we offer these tithes and gifts. Thank you for the amazing gift you provide each of us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We rejoice in the ways we can make a difference in lives of those near by and those on the far side of the earth. AMEN Special music Scripture Acts 4:32-35 Sharing among the believers 32 The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common. 33 The apostles continued to bear powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and an abundance of grace was at work among them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales, 35 and place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was distributed to anyone who was in need. Sermon Stewardship as a way of life When asked what makes your church special – most churches would respond – our church is like a family. We love each other, we stick together, we take care of one another. At our clergy meeting this week our district superintendent gave us an article to read which suggests that it is not a good idea to describe your congregation as a family. I have not had a chance to read the article yet, but I do know that families don’t choose one another, they don’t always get along, they are no always on the same page. And you can love a family member, and yet intentionally keep your distance from that person. Usually people that we call family are those who think like us, or live near us, that we get along with. We are all willing to expand our definition of family – but we all have our boundaries – there are always people who are still outside our circle that we are not willing to reach out to. Jesus came to encourage people to reach beyond their boundaries to understand, work with, to include in church. Yes, church is like a family – but it is so much more. We are not held together by blood, or commonality – but by the mission of Christ to help others. So during the Easter season, instead of looking at the Hebrew bible – we look at the book of acts. Luke wrote the book of acts as a continuation of his gospel. The gospel of Luke tells of the life of Jesus, the book of acts is the story of the disciples after the resurrections. This is the story of the birth of the church as we know it today. This is such an amazing story of the power of conviction. The disciples were able to overcome the persecution to get the message out to the public. The holy spirit was so powerful that over 3000 people joined the church in one day. The church became a community that was so united that they owned everything in common and shared everything. It is easy to read the book of Acts and to feel that our modern day church is so far behind – we are lucky if we reach 5 people in a year. There have been times when even I have been tempted to preach a bible study on acts and to say this is what we should be doing. But that does not take into account the fact that the church in our scripture today proved not to be sustainable. The scripture today talks about how the church was so united they shared everything in common. That did not last long. It is sort of like the book of Deuteronomy talks about the year of jubilee. The year of Jubilee comes every 50 years – it is a year where you let servants go, you forgive the debts of your family, and financially you start all over again. You read about it in the bible, but no one tells you that the year of jubilee has never ever ever happened in reality. The year of jubilee has never been economically feasible. A church where there is no personal property and everything belongs to the church – just was never economically feasible. The point of these stories is first – they are a model for us to strive towards in our lives, they teach us a valuable lesson in stewardship and the economic concepts are part of a bigger picture on what it means to give the Lord our whole mind, body and spirit. These stories help us to understand that stewardship involves money, but they are not about money. Stewardship is about our relationship with God, and how that relationship influences our relationship with those around us. It is a cross shapes faith – vertical with God, horizontal with others. Our story in Acts is a story of two different responses to God. In chapter 4 we hear of the story of Barnabas. Barnabas was so inspired by the mission of the disciples that he sold a field and gave all of the money to the disciples to use to help others. We don’t get into chapter 5, but it tells the story of two other followers, Ananias and Sapphira who wanted what Barnabas got by giving. They wanted the recognition and acknowledgement of their peers. They too gave money to the disciples mission – but it was obvious that they were giving, but they had also put aside some money for themselves. Soon after giving to the church half heartedly – they were killed. That is the end of their story. However, Barnabas story is told throughout the book of acts as an example. Barnabas remained just a faithful lay person all of his life. But he goes on to not only give to the mission, but he encouraged Paul to become a disciple, he took Paul to Jerusalem to meet the other disciples, he and Paul were partners in spreading the gospel, and he nurtured a young man John Mark to tell his story by writing the gospel of Mark. Barnabas was a foreigner in the Hebrew community. His real name was Jospeh, but the disciples called him Barbabas – which means son of encouragement. For barnabas, encouragement become more than a single act, it became a lifestyle. That one decision to sell his farm and give the money to the church led to stewardship as a way of life. What would happen if our economic decisions led us to a deeper place in the mission of Christ? What can we do to become sons and daughters of encouragement. A man complained to his pastor, "I've been listening to your sermons and to our leaders at church and what you are asking us to do here and in our community is getting to be just one continuous 'give, give, give.' " To which the pastor replied, "Say, that's one of the best descriptions of Christianity I've ever heard!" Giving is our response to God. As the Cadillac owner walked to his car, he saw a boy about ten years old staring intently through the windows. Wondering what he was up to, the man put his hands on the youngster's shoulders, pulled gently and asked him what he was doing. The boy said he was interested in cars and had read a lot about different models. The owner talked with the boy for a while explaining to him details about this particular model and style. After a little while, the boy asked, "Mister, how much did you pay for this car?" The man replied, "Nothing. My brother gave it to me." The boy responded, "I wish ..." but stopped without finishing. The man chuckled, "You were going to say, 'I wish I had a brother like that.'" "No, I was going to say, 'I wish I could be a brother like that.' You see, sir, I have a brother who is crippled and I'd like to do a lot of things for him." So, that leads us back to the notion of a church being a family, but a family grounded in the mission and purpose of the gospel. The scripture in acts says that the community of believers were one in heart and mind – they loved the lord with all of their mind heart and soul – and they lived together as one body. Their strength as a community deeper than family was in their unity. Perhaps you have been out to California and seen these gigantic huge redwood trees. They are some of the most amazing trees in all of the world. As a matter of fact, they are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees on this planet. Some of them are 300 ft. high and over 2,500 years old. The inside of some of the trunks are so huge that two or three people can stand inside of them. Now you would think that trees this large must have a tremendous root system that reaches down hundreds of feet into the earth; but not so! The redwoods have a very shallow root system unlike the palm tree, whose taproot goes down into the ground as deep as the tree is tall. In other words, a 30 ft. palm tree has a 30 ft. root. The redwood has no taproot at all. That's why you will never see a redwood standing alone—never. They are always in clusters, groups, and groves. Do you know why the might of the redwood tree is not in itself? The secret of its strength is this: For every foot in height, the redwood tree sends its roots not down, but three times that distance…out! In other words, if a tree is 300 ft. tall, its roots go 900 ft. out. If you could look underground you would find all of the roots of all of those trees intertwined and intertwist so that one tree is not holding up itself, but every tree is holding up the other. These trees are literally locked to each other so there is no way that one tree can fall down; it is held up by the strength of the other trees. Psalm 133 begins by saying how good it is when families live as one. It is in our unity that we find the blessing of Eternal life. What makes the church community different from other communities? The Christian community is the place where resources and gifts are shared. "No one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common" (v. 32). Furthermore, they sold their lands and houses and "laid (the proceeds) at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need" (v. 35). Somebody said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; but working together is success." Well, why should we come together? Why should we work together? How can we stay together? The community model embedded in Acts 4 stood on the two pillars of proclamation and loving one another. There is a small congregation in eastern Arizona in a mining town that saw its glory days pass about a half-century ago. The parish has about 125 members and there are usually at least 125 people at Sunday services. When the pastor announces that the choir will sing, about half of the congregation stands up and approaches the altar. When the offering looks a little meager, the president of the congregation stands up and tells the ushers to pass the plate again. Closing prayers are long and detailed and cover those facing surgery to those who are worried about the kids to those who are about to go on a trip. The "refreshments" after the service include cakes, sandwiches, hot dishes, meatballs, gelatin dishes, and several kinds of beverages. In other words, it's a Sunday lunch and it's time to visit with one another and catch up on the latest happenings within the community. If someone should mention that they resemble the community described in Acts 4, they would be embarrassed. What if a stranger would confront the people? "What is the meaning of this city? Do you huddle close together because you love each other? Or do you dwell together to make money from each other?" The people in that community would say, "There's not much money to make from each other. We just enjoy each other's company. We share our mutual woes and joys. And by the way ... we meet up there on the ridge at 5 a.m. to greet the Son on Easter morning." That community is an Easter community. It is a sharing community. Enough said. Amen. Prayer Pastoral Prayer: Lord of mercy, it has been a week since the Easter celebration. Our church was beautified with flowers, lovely decorations, banners, lots of people, beautiful music. It was the kind of Easter in which we could celebrate. But during this week we have slumped back to our old ways. The world, which seems to be too much with us, has claimed our souls. Our resurrection faith has become dim. Let the story of Thomas who wanted more than anything else to see the risen Lord, pour into our hearts, reviving our spirits, giving assurance to our souls. Let fear subside! Replace our doubts with certainty in your love and healing mercies. As we have brought names before you this day, asking for your healing touch, be with us as we also receive that same healing love. Give us joy and courage for all the times ahead; for we offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord. AMEN. We have been inside the sanctuary for 4 weeks now. Things are slowly returning back to normal. But we all know that this is a new normal. There are a lot of things that we lost during pandemic, there are some people who were important to our gathering who are not with us anymore. As we move forward into purpose, next week our service will be a memorial service where we take a moment to acknowledge our loss. Song for Reflection We are Called TFWS 2172 Stewardship may look a little different this year. But this is not the end of our conversation, but the beginning. Stewardship starts with us giving an offering, but it like the story of barnabas it continues and spreads to all of our life, where we are living it everyday. As you turn in our pledges this is the beginning of the story of our future as a church. Our opportunity to be in ministry to God. That opportunity is open to all of us to live our lives with the mission of Jesus at the center of all that we do. Prayer over pledges One: Creator of all, the earth is yours, the world and all who live in it. All: You have entrusted us with gifts— time, talent, energy, money— and asked us to use them to build your kingdom. With thanks and praise we respond to your call. One: We bring these gifts you have given, returning your generosity, paying it forward. All: We offer ourselves, our lives, our hopes and fears, our dollars and our hours. We commit ourselves to work for your world, to love and serve wherever you call. One: We ask your blessing on this, your church, as we seek to follow you with heart, mind, and soul. All: Bless also these gifts, our investment in your future, that they may multiply in faith, hope, and love. Amen. Announcements Benediction Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work. I give you my feet to go your way. I give you my eyes to see as you see. I give you my tongue to speak your words. I give you my mind to think as you think. I give you my spirit so that you may pray in me. I give you my self so that you may grow in me. So that it is you, Lord Jesus, who lives and works and prays in me. Amen. Children’s Sermon Additional Illustrations A sermon on giving at Easter time? I thought that was an emphasis for fall. Why not now? Giving should be our response to Jesus' life, death, and life again. Not just replanting lilies in the garden, dry-cleaning your suit to store for next year, or finding places to store egg baskets and that elusive green and pink grass. The grave is open; so also are our hearts and hands! There's an old story, familiar, perhaps, but it illustrates what the church is all about. It concerns a newly ordained minister who arrived in a country parish somewhere in a mountainous state. After his first service, an older lady approached him and said, "My husband is a good man, but he refuses to attend church. Would you pay him a visit?" Now experienced pastors know how useless such an effort nearly always proves to be. But this young fellow didn't know about such failure. He agreed, and the next day drove up the mountain to a small home and knocked on the door. A middle-aged man greeted him and wordlessly invited the new pastor in. The gentleman was not much of a talker. "Sit a spell," he said, apparently knowing who his visitor was. It had all been tried before. The two of them sat staring into a blazing fire in the fireplace for some time. At last, the older man said, "Reverend, I know my wife asked you to come. But I don't need no church. I think I'm as good as most of those people who go there. I'm a Christian." Finally, the young pastor wordlessly picked up a pair of tongs and removed a blazing coal from the fire, placing it aside. After a bit, the coal grew dim, then turned to brown ash as it grew cold. Only then, the pastor picked the dead coal up and thrust it into the fire. Soon it was bright and blazing once more. With that, the pastor started for the door. The older man followed him and, as the young man headed for his car, the man called out, "I see what you mean, Reverend. I'll see you in church." This is the root of authentic Christian stewardship—to realize that I am, in fact, a "steward," a caretaker of the bounty God has entrusted to me. And in that light, "things" become more important than ever since, in fact, they come from God. 2. Barnabas found the way to generosity. You see, the problem is that troubling times, difficult economic realities, or upheavals in our industries can sometimes push us in exactly the opposite direction. Instead of teaching us new appreciation for material things, they can drive us to selfishness and greed, hoarding and holding, narrowing our lives to the point that "things" take on even less value. The antidote is a spirit of generosity. Barnabas found the way—the way to generous living. He found the way to use what he had received from God to encourage, to console, to refresh. If you track the journey of Barnabas through the book of Acts, he always shows up in the same frame: - Following the conversion of Saul into Paul, he is the one who makes the way of welcome, who introduces him to the community of the faithful. (Acts 9:26-27) - In Judea, he is the one who carries the relief offering to the suffering Christians…a symbol of the open hearts of the disciples. (Acts 11:29-30) - In Antioch he serves with Paul, assisting others in their ministry, opening minds to the Gospel. (Acts 11:22-26) - In Jerusalem, he is there at the first conference, arguing for the inclusion of the Gentiles in the community…opening the doors for the outsiders. (Acts 15:1-31) So Barnabas sells a field and brings the proceeds for the ministry of Christ. And when Ananias and Sapphira see it, they think they will try it, too. But instead, they hold something back for themselves—deceptive, greedy, clutching, lining their own pockets. Call them the Jack Abramoff of the first century church, I suppose—wanting to look good rather than do good; doing for others, but doing for themselves first. They wanted, like Barnabas, to be known for their generosity, but didn't want to pay the price. And when the truth comes out, they are so shocked, they drop down dead! Because, you see, when you grab and clutch and hold, your life shrivels and your soul dies. A bully in a small town resented the man everyone looked up to as the wisest man in town. He decided to teach the wise man a lesson. He held a chicken behind his back and asked the wise man, "Is this chicken dead or alive?" Of course, if the wise man said, "Dead" the bully would show him a live chicken. If the wise man said, "Alive" the bully would strangle the chicken and show up the wise man by producing a dead chicken. "Well," said the impatient bully, "Is the chicken dead or alive? Let's hear your answer." At a much deeper level, that same question is asked of each of us on this first Sunday after Easter. "Is Christ alive or dead? Let's hear your answer." Last Sunday, Easter Day, with an enthusiastic crowd in church, we heard a sermon about Christ's resurrection. In prayers and songs we asserted that Jesus is alive. Today, a week later, we need to ask the question, "For us, is Jesus alive or dead?" The truth, of course, is that whether we believe it or not, Jesus is alive. Whether the living Christ makes a difference to us today is the question behind the question of the truth of the resurrection. These early followers had the right idea, namely that our purpose in life is not to gain possessions for self, but to glorify Christ by giving sacrificially. The apparent failure was in fact a monumental example of one of the basic principles of the Lord to put others before ourselves. The early Christians bore witness to the principle: Jesus first; others second; and yourself third. That creed spells j-o-y. That creed means joy. A. His name was really Joseph. Barnabas was a nickname given to him by the Apostles and the Christian community. In the passage we learn that Barnabas means "Son of encouragement." He was a blessing wherever he went. And everyone recognized that. And it held true in all of his life and ministry. As we read further in Acts, we see Barnabas was the one who introduced Paul to the Apostles in Jerusalem when they didn't want to have anything to do with him. Paul was the great persecutor. But Barnabas had heard Paul preach Jesus with great power while in Damascus. Barnabas used his status and influence to tell Paul's story and tear down the walls of suspicion, so Paul could be accepted. And so the early church could hear and be touched by the power of Paul's preaching. And if any introduction ever paid off. It was this one. We all know how incredibly successful Paul was in spreading the Gospel and starting churches. Barnabas also accompanied Paul on several Missionary journeys. Acts 11 recounts how people in Antioch began to believe and Barnabas was sent to help them get a church started. Verses 23-24 read: "When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. B. So, what can we learn from Barnabas. We have to remember that Evangelism isn't about us. It isn't about how we feel. It isn't about our comfort. It's about Good News that God has for people who don't know God's love. It's Good News. That means it's encouraging news. And if anything, what we learn from Barnabas is that we can all be Sons and Daughters of encouragement. A. His name was really Joseph. Barnabas was a nickname given to him by the Apostles and the Christian community. In the passage we learn that Barnabas means "Son of encouragement." He was a blessing wherever he went. And everyone recognized that. And it held true in all of his life and ministry. As we read further in Acts, we see Barnabas was the one who introduced Paul to the Apostles in Jerusalem when they didn't want to have anything to do with him. Paul was the great persecutor. But Barnabas had heard Paul preach Jesus with great power while in Damascus. Barnabas used his status and influence to tell Paul's story and tear down the walls of suspicion, so Paul could be accepted. And so the early church could hear and be touched by the power of Paul's preaching. And if any introduction ever paid off. It was this one. We all know how incredibly successful Paul was in spreading the Gospel and starting churches. Barnabas also accompanied Paul on several Missionary journeys. Acts 11 recounts how people in Antioch began to believe and Barnabas was sent to help them get a church started. Verses 23-24 read: "When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Being a Barnabas is also about living an inviting lifestyle. I may have already told this story before, I don't remember. But the story was told by the wife. It illustrates the spirit of being a Barnabas. That's how we're supposed to live. We're called to be like Barnabas and be Sons and Daughters of Encouragement. And that encouragement is needed. There are so many people whose outlook on life is negative. They've been wounded or alienated. There are folks who think no one cares, not even God. There are folks who are consumed with guilt and they don't know where to turn. You and I have great news. We have the Good News of a God who is loving and forgiving. We have the Good News of Savior who can give us meaning and purpose in life. We have the Good News. But how will others hear it if we don't share it and be encouragers. Be a Barnabas. Be a Son of Daughter of Encouragement. What I want to talk to you about today is something that God desperately desires for his people. It is one thing that Satan fears and works day and night to undo. It is something for which Jesus himself prayed for just before He went to the cross. It is the one thing the bible says that will convince people that the church has something the world does not. It is the one thing that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant to accomplish. What is it that I am talking about?—UNITY. sallust once said, "By unity the smallest states thrive; by discord the greatest are destroyed." Our national motto is e pluribus unum, which means "out of the many, one." Again, our founding fathers knew that we must forever be "The United States of America." I read about a man one time who went out on a boat deep-sea fishing who couldn't swim. He caught an enormous fish, and in his excitement to pull it into the boat, he fell overboard. He cried out, "Save me, I cannot swim!" Well, the captain of the boat very calmly reached out, grabbed the man by the arm, and gave a big pull; but he didn't know it was an artificial arm, and the arm came off! Well, the man continued to kick and splash around crying for help. The captain reached out again; this time he grabbed his leg and gave a tremendous pull, but the leg came off because it was a wooden leg. The man in the water went under again and he came up yelling for help. The captain, still calm, this time grabbed the man by the hair of his head and gave a gigantic pull. But the man was wearing a toupee and it came off. At that point the captain looked at the man in the water and said, "Mister, if you won't stick together, I can't help you!" Even God cannot help a church that is not going to stick together. I want to tell you if we are going to be victorious as a church and accomplish all that God wants us to accomplish, and be all that God wants us to be, we must come together, we must work together, we must stay together. So I want to talk to you today about the vastly important subject of unity. Somebody said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; but working together is success." Well, why should we come together? Why should we work together? How can we stay together? What is the basis of unity in the church? May I suggest three things that should form the basis of our unity. That is the real secret of the strength of a country, of a state, of a community, of a church. The reason why we are to be so united is, as Jesus said in v.21, "that the world may believe that You sent Me." The greatest advertisement for the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a billboard, a newspaper advertisement, or even a television program; the greatest advertisement for the gospel of Jesus Christ is a church that is unified in the Holy Spirit. In his book Telling Secrets author Frederick Buechner tells about sharing a pleasant dinner with his mother one evening when they were interrupted by a telephone call from a friend of his. This friend’s family had been visiting another part of the country and had been in an awful accident. The friend asked Buechner if he would come wait with him at the airport where he was to catch a plane to where the accident had happened. Buechner said he would. Buechner’s mother was furious. She said Buechner was a fool to think of ruining their evening together for such a ridiculous reason. For a moment, he says, he was horrified to find himself thinking that maybe she was right. Then the next moment, says Buechner, he saw more clearly than he ever had before that it is on just such outwardly trivial decisions as this should I go or should I stay that human souls are saved or lost. He also saw for what was maybe the first time in his life that we are called to love our neighbors not just for our neighbors’ sake but for our own sake. (4) Sharing with one another was how these early Christians testified to the resurrection of the Lord. In his book Telling Secrets author Frederick Buechner tells about sharing a pleasant dinner with his mother one evening when they were interrupted by a telephone call from a friend of his. This friend’s family had been visiting another part of the country and had been in an awful accident. The friend asked Buechner if he would come wait with him at the airport where he was to catch a plane to where the accident had happened. Buechner said he would. Buechner’s mother was furious. She said Buechner was a fool to think of ruining their evening together for such a ridiculous reason. For a moment, he says, he was horrified to find himself thinking that maybe she was right. Then the next moment, says Buechner, he saw more clearly than he ever had before that it is on just such outwardly trivial decisions as this should I go or should I stay that human souls are saved or lost. He also saw for what was maybe the first time in his life that we are called to love our neighbors not just for our neighbors’ sake but for our own sake. (4) Sharing with one another was how these early Christians testified to the resurrection of the Lord. We need to be converted to the reality that we need each other. Simply because autonomy and independence rule today should not mean that these concepts are the ideal. Maybe we can learn something about teamwork from the Four Horsemen and Seven Mules, the understanding of the ancient Greeks, and especially those first followers of Jesus. The common good of all believers must be the ideal we strive to reach in our lives. Our work is the work of Christ for we are his body, as Saint Paul reminds us (1 Corinthians 12). We act most strongly as teammates when we become the Christ to others. Saint Teresa of Avila, the sixteenth century mystic and church reformer, expressed this idea powerfully in a famous prayer: "Christ has no hands but yours, no hands no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which Christ looks with compassion on the world. Christ has no hands but yours." My friends, may we believe, act, and profess the same! A New Testament scholar describes it in this fashion: No one before Luke and no one after him took this daring step and told the story of the church as the continuation of the story of Jesus ... we are justified in calling his work a History of Salvation, with the subtitles "From Jesus to Paul," "From Jerusalem to Rome," and "From Jews only to Gentiles Also."2 Luke is not only a physician but a historian. For him history is the story of the living God guiding the histories of all people and nations to their fulfillment in Christ. Here we have the story of a giving, sharing congregation, living under and by the power of God’s grace ... a congregation united together because God had brought them together, and because of that they had obligations toward one another. This was a radical change. In this congregation they looked at things differently. A new relationship between possessions and people developed. They saw hurting people. They saw peopie who were beaten down. They didn’t say, "that’s your tough luck!" No, they responded in love; and love says, "when you hurt, I hurt." Love shares what it has with those who have even less. Some biblical scholars see this event as an unrealistic idealized picture, or as an unsuccessful experiment in communism. We could reason that if all the houses had been sold, then the congregation would not have had any homes to meet in. It is also hard to understand how a community could live indefinitely by using up their capital. So perhaps the picture is somewhat idealized, but the challenge remains nevertheless. Christians are to look at their wealth in a new way. In 1 John we read, "Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." In the book of James we read this stern warning: If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. (2:15-17) In the Bible there is no divorce between spirituality and social responsibility. The vertical dimension of the community of believers - that is, our prayer life, worship and study, produces a horizontal expression. This sharing is not forced, nor is it a condition of entrance into a congregation. Sharing our resources is not to be looked upon as the result of some law, but as a consequence of our faith. We Christians in our giving are not preaching a certain economic philosophy, but we are expressing our Christian love. Due to the spirit of God, a new social unity becomes visible among the members of God’s congregation.